Russia is sending the naval landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov to the eastern Mediterranean, state news agency Interfax said on Friday, reinforcing its presence near Syria.

Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, says its vessels in the eastern Mediterranean guarantee security as the United States considers launching military strikes to punish Damascus for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

“The vessel will dock in Novorossiysk where it will take special cargo on board and head to the designated area of military service in the eastern Mediterranean,” Interfax quoted an unnamed navy source as saying.

It gave no more details and Russia’s Defense Ministry declined immediate comment.

Nikolai Filchenkov was not among vessels that the ministry said last month would enter the Mediterranean as part of a planned rotation.

The ship itself:

[3]

This is the third naval “landing” ship Russia has sent to Syria, following the previously reported dispatch [4]of the Novocherkassk (150 marines on board) and Minsk (225 marines). According to the website of the Russian Black Sea fleet, [5]the Filchenkov can carry 300 troops + 1,700 tons including about 20 tanks and various trucks or 40 AFV’s.

And as a reminder from yesterday[6], one can likely cross from Cyprus to Syria by stepping on ship hulls and not getting wet.